The allowed build-up of toxic waste and materials on the North Esk flood plain that was visible in an Examiner photo, plus that in the Tamar basin is inexcusable.

As a community we are now more environmentally conscious and the relevant authorities should act with haste to undertake a forensic audit to identify and remove all inappropriate chemicals, materials and derelict vehicles.

We must halt the continual degradation of our estuary by promoting best practices by businesses and community groups that are located close to the river edge.

THE big black man may now be gone, 

But his spirit will live on;

A legend true for all to see,

His name, of course, Muhammad Ali.

Built like an athlete with grace and tall,

He was the greatest of them all.

To float like a butterfly yet sting like a bee,

His like again we’ll never see.

THE HABIT of referring to children as kids seems to be growing.

It is a demeaning term and I am concerned to see high school children often referred to in this way.

For those attending schools, pupil, probably at primary level, and student, for older children, are much more appropriate words.

The way we talk about our young people should show respect as the future depends on them.

LIKE many others I have certain ideas in regards to the Launceston Estuary problem.

At the height of the floods in Launceston I happened to have a conversation with Andrew Nikolic and in these days of public disregard of our pollies, I was greatly impressed by his apparent grasp of the problem with his statement that: “before anything can be done there must be a concerted effort in dealing with the sewage and waste finding its way into the area”. He was lobbying the federal government constantly for funds in order to do exactly that, after which we could then look at the many suggestions put forward by us all.

Made perfect sense to this writer and his willingness to enter into quite lengthy discussion, despite his busy schedule in preparing for the coming election, absolutely gained my personal support.

NOW that the federal election is in full flight with many press conferences every day, it's hard to believe that the television channels haven't got the technology to allow us the viewers and voters, to hear the questions at these press conferences, instead of just the answers, and then try and guess what the question was.

It's ridiculous, and just as ridiculous is Malcolm Turnbull and his Liberal candidates telling us that business tax cuts will create jobs and growth. Yeah right!

There will be no extra jobs because the only growth will be to the profits and bank balances of the businesses that receive those tax cuts.

PRIME Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s election advertisement saying he is for research and science would be laughable if it were not so tragic.

He’s taken the filleting knife to the CSIRO and other science programs and yet thinks we are gullible enough to believe him.